Author: ericfolkerth

Eric Folkerth is a minister, musician, author and blogger. He is Senior Pastor of Kessler Park UMC United Methodist Church in Dallas, Texas. Previously, he was pastor at Northaven UMC in Dallas for seventeen years. Eric loves to write on topics of spirituality, social justice, music/art and politics. The entries on this blog reflect that diversity of interests. His passion for social justice goes beyond mere words. Eric was arrested at the White House, defending immigrants and “The Dreamers;” and he’s officiated at same sex weddings. Eric was the 2017 recipient of the prestigeous Kuchling Humanitarian Award from Dallas’ Black Tie Dinner. (Human Rights Campaign) Eric has led or co-led hundreds of persons on mission trips to build houses and bring medical care around the globe, to places such as Mexico, Haiti, Russia, Guatemala, and Nepal. He is proud of have shephereded Highland Park UMC's construction of ten Habitat for Humanity homes, (and one Community Center) and helped forge an alliance with Habitat that led to the construction of 100 homes in Dallas, housing thousands of people. His wife, Justice Dennise Garcia, has 20 years experience as a state district judge and appelate justice in North Texas. First elected in 2004, she was the first Latina ever elected to a Dallas County state district bench, and she she left that position whe was the longest currently serving district judge. In 2020 Dennise Garcia was a elected as a Justice of the 5th District Court of Appeals for Texas. She is currently running to be Chief of the 5th District Court of Appeals in the 2024 cycle. They have the world’s best daughter, Maria, who is a practicing professional counselor in Dallas. Find links to Eric’s music-related websites, at the top of this site’s navigation menu.

In My Hood Today? The Best Game in College Football (Texas/OU)

October 12, 2024.Reading time 8 minutes.

Just look at how beautiful this is.
This is my city.
This is the core, where I live, where I work, and where you’ll find me most of the time.

For the uninitiated, the foreground lights are less than 2 miles from me, right now. They are the State Fair of Texas, where as they have for the last 110 years, Texas will face against OU later today.

Two Remarkable Clergywomen

October 11, 2024.Reading time 12 minutes.

I want to talk about two remarkable clergywomen, and two changes to our church-law that affects both them, and all of us…in a good way. Telling these stories is, in a tangible way, how to describe the changes afoot in the United Methodist Church, and why I continue to be deeply hopeful about our future:

Rev. Jane Graner.
And, KPUMC’s own, Pastor Kay Ash.

Goodbye, Pete Rose

October 1, 2024.Reading time 4 minutes.

One more time, in case you’re missing my point, this is not to excuse Rose.
My point is something deeper than these moralizing cultural tales.
My point ten years ago, and still this morning, is this:

“God has a soft spot for assholes.”

Rest well, Pete Rose.

The Folkerths and Haitians of Central Ohio

September 23, 2024.Reading time 19 minutes.

I have been watching with some interest, the story of Haitian immigrants, in the little town of Springfield, OH.

Springfield is about as far Northeast of Dayton as Greenville (where the Folkerths are from) is Northwest.

So I have thoughts…

America Is Still Center-Left

September 14, 2024.Reading time 25 minutes.

I’m back today to remind you about my favorite political datapoint and what it says about America. I bet it’s one you’re at least vaguely aware of. But I’d also bet it’s one you often forget about in the heat of a presidential election. My favorite political datapoint is this: Over roughly the past 40 […]

A Little Reminder

September 13, 2024.Reading time 21 minutes.

“I think God speaks to us through little events that happen. And if we’re listening closely to life events, our opportunities to help others leap out in front of us.

Tuesday afternoon, I was working in the office, when Oscar Brown stopped by to let me know the Day School Staff and parents were reporting a houseless neighbor, passed out on our playground.”

What I Love About College Football

August 31, 2024.Reading time 7 minutes.

With college football, it’s really is not whether we win or lose. It’s that we all play the game.

We’re all in this together on those Saturday afternoons, cheering on our teams, big and small, hoping against hope that this year will be “our year.” College football is a unifying experience that is not just about the “Top 25.” It’s about everybody else too.

My Performance at the Sixth Floor Museum

August 7, 2024.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Well, what an honor this is…
The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza has put out a highlight video of musical performances they’ve gathered over the years, and they’ve included my own song “Sitting In the Trade Hall.”

Ten Years After A Failure To Move

August 3, 2024.Reading time 5 minutes.

Ten years ago this week, I was blessed to participate in the most powerful non-violent witness of my life, when I was arrested outside the White House, standing up for our young immigrant “Dreamers” and their families.
@followers

A Chilling Effect Even for Basic Decency

July 23, 2024.Reading time 8 minutes.

If you want to know the kinds of “chilling affects” pastors deal with today…trying to balance speaking truth and keeping their jobs…Google the name “Brent Leatherwood.” Leatherwood is a Southern Baptist layperson, whose current job is working for the Southern Baptist Convention. No thinking person would doubt his conservative bona fides, having previously been head […]